Midwest Penguins 15 Black: A Force to be Reckoned With

The Midwest Penguins 15-Black team is bursting with talent. From defense to right side hitting, the team connects on all levels. They have pulled in some major wins this season including, most recently, winning their Pre-Nationals Tournament at the Great Lakes Center in the 15 Premier division. Additionally, they placed 19th, and the highest of all 15’s teams from Wisconsin, in the GLPL 15/16 Super Open Division. 15-Black started ranked in last place and worked their way up through the play dates to finish 11th on the last date (GLPL utilizes a points system which placed them 19th overall for the season); a great accomplishment which showed grit and tenacity! Some other notable wins include winning the Badger Qualifier, taking 5th place in the USA division of the Mideast Qualifier hosted in Indianapolis earlier this spring, and finishing 3rd in the Badger State AAU tournament in the 16’s division. Longtime Midwest Penguins Coach, Brian Drew, commented, “Volleyball is the ultimate team sport, you can be amazing, but you can only do so much. So, I think this team really shows what a group of 11 girls can do when they are all about each other, not themselves.” Some key players from the Penguins team include: Abby Fregien (#10, Outside Hitter, Waukesha West, Class of 2021): Abby plays all the way around in every single game and is essential to the team dynamic. Having played 142 full sets with a hitting average of .271 and 309 kills on the season so far, she has proven herself as consistent, powerful, and strategic. Not only is her offense impressive, but her defense speaks for itself. She has passed over 600 serves with a 96% success rate, only having been aced 23 times this season. She also leads the team in digs. Her strong presence on the court is undeniable and it is not often you find an athlete this talented. Kayla Lewinski (#12, Right Side Hitter, Sussex Hamilton, Class of 2021): Kayla is an extremely vocal right side who has emerged as an effective leader on this team. She has the second most sets and is hitting a .276. Coach Brian Drew describes her as a great “weapon to have on the right side.” Kayla has developed her skills throughout the season, specifically blocking which shows in her 17 solo blocks in the teams last four tournaments. Hailey Boelter-Eberhardt (#8, Setter, Pewaukee, Class of 2021): Hailey is an extremely efficient setter, knowing how to run the court and make plays. Her confidence and high skill level make her a great leader on the court. Additionally, she is a key player as a setter, server, and on defense. She has 802 assists on the season so far, 47 aces, and 192 digs and makes a positive impact on the outcome of games. Alexis Boling (#23, Middle Hitter, Waukesha West, Class of 2021): Alexis is a powerhouse middle hitter on a mission. Her talent in the front row is truly amazing. With 326 kills, a hitting average of .413, and 95 blocks going into the postseason, her statistics speak for themselves. Alexis has a strong presence in the middle and is a great asset to her team. This Midwest Penguins team is truly a force to be reckoned with. Every single player on their team brings serious talent and an amazing work ethic. This team’s success is a great testament to what can happen when you bring 11 extremely talented athletes together who want to play for each other and for their team. Coach Drew commented that “they play for each other, they pump each other up, and they hit the ball really...really hard.” They will be competing in the National division at the USAV Girls National Championships later this month.